Description

The Chiss Ascendancy came into existence after the rival Chiss Houses chose peace and cooperation after many years of fighting and unrest. Under the Ancient Chiss Ascendancy, Chiss civilization grew and prospered with the support of the Chiss Houses, each specialized in unique skills.

The “Golden Age” of the Chiss Ascendancy wouldn’t last however, as fighting from both internal and external forces eventually caused the Acsendancy’s demise. Many Chiss migrated off their ancestral lands in hopes of a new beginning and an attempt to preserve Chiss culture.

The battle hardened Chiss sentients in exile faced many obstacles in their attempts to restore a new Ascendancy. By Year 15, the remnants of Chiss Society finally put their differences aside and united under a new governing body, guided by the principles of a new Constitution. As the years passed, the reborn Ascendancy reestablished the Ruling Circle and a new Chiss Parliament. The Chiss Expansionary Defense Force was also created, a military division whose leadership was comprised of capable veterans of multiple wars.

Among the Chiss Exiles, Chiss Culture has been preserved with a renewed effort by the Chiss Houses on unity and creating a growing community for Chiss and Non-Chiss who share the vision of Restoration. Today the Chiss Ascendancy stands for a resilient group of sentients that never give up despite any challenge. The history of the Chiss is steeped in knowledge and perseverance, and together they forge ahead into a new era of prosperity and strength.

History

Rise(5000 BCGT - 68 BCGT)

Chiss Civilization was built over the course of many centuries. Tribes were organized into families, with the family which led the tribe named as the Ruling House. An Ice Age led to a massive southern migration of many Tribes. Low level conflict led to the formation of a division of labor in Chiss Society. Harsh conditions forced each tribe(by this time they were known as Houses) to become highly specialized as a means to trade those skills for the skills of others. This cooperation became the foundation of the Chiss Ascendancy.

The Chiss Expansionary Defense Force(CEDF) was created to protect Csila and her new offworld colonies, governed by Colonial Syndics. Colonial Phalanxes were developed to protect the populations of those colonies(Colonial Phalanxes also served as the planetary police units). The Chiss Parliament was created to represent the Chiss People at large. Each planet sent a number of represenatives, or Senators, based on its population. At the height of the Ascendancy over 200 Senators were seated in the Chiss Parliament.

The Chiss Houses were allowed to keep armed contingents called Household Phalanxes for personal protection. Asrallka was created for the purposes of Security and Intelligence, staffed primarily by the Shadow Children, or hidden heirs, Chiss Houses. The leaders of the Chiss Houses would meet collectively in the Council of Families, a body which had the powers or Head of State.

The Role of Head of Government was reserved for a similar body created for the Colonial Syndics, the Chiss Cabinet, which managed the specific aspects of the Ascendancy on a daily basis. Both groups met in the Planetary Capital of Csaplar(Home of the Csapla ruling family) in a facility known as the House Palace. The House Palace would remain the Seat of Government for the Chiss Ascendancy, and even the Planet itself for over 5,000 Years.

All Chiss Knowledge was stored in the magnificent complex known as the Chiss Expeditionary Library, while all Chiss warriors, regardless of assignment were armed with new technologies, such as Charrics and Masers(Chiss Ground Troops used Maser-armed tanks.).

Vagaari Wars(67 BCGT - 40BCGT)

First Vagaari War

As the Chiss Ascendancy expanded its borders to include more worlds and trade routes, it found itself faced with new threats, such as the Ebruchi Pirates, who had hidden bases dangerously close to Chiss Space. Even in victory, there were challenges, as the Chiss Ascendancy was in the position of assimilating alien populations. After conflicts with hostile empires, the Chiss Ascendancy had absorbed many alien worlds, with alien civilizations. The world of Sarvchi specialized in the assimilation of alien races. Most worlds welcomed the Chiss as liberators(except notables from the old regimes who sponsored abortive rebellions against Chiss governance).

The Chiss Ascendancy had abhorred slavery for philosophical reasons. Only Non-Sentient creatures were acceptible for use as coerced labor. The CEDF, however, only enforced slavery inside its borders. A Chiss Merchant,Diplomat, or Asrallka agent who observed the slave trade would report this to their trading parters during a trade.

The Vagaari were a race of nomadic slavers, and when they attacked what they assumed to be just another target, they had no idea they were preparing for a confrontation with the Chiss. Their chosen target had been favored trad partner to the Chiss.The CEDF sent a Task Force to investigate, and the Task Force was ambushed, but emerged victorious.

The response was an unrelenting attack on Chiss Trade Routes. The Chiss Ascendancy constructed Armed Merchant Cruisers with concealed weaponry to meet this new threat. The CEDF counterattack used intelligence gathered by Asrallka to find the location of the Vagaari Homeworld, a search which lasted two years.

After the Battle of the Vagaari Homeworld, there were no further Vagaari attacks.

Second Vagaari War(40 BCGT - 38 BCGT)

"Those shields aren't particle bubbles, they are sentients!"

-Transmission Excerpt,1st Battle of Cormit

Many years later the Vagaari returned , but with a new strategy. The Chiss had not attacked the Vagaari Homeworld, but the homeworld of another race the Vagaari had enslaved called the Geroons(this fact would not be known until the Five Year War).The Vagaari Miskara(Supreme Commander) decided to create an embargo-in-force against the Chiss. Anyone who traded with the Chiss was attacked in a series of brutal raids and strict blockades.

While the more prosperous House worlds such as Sposia(ruled by House Sabosen) were well supplied through the crisis, more remote colonies felt the sting of restricted supplies.

The Vagaari then assembled a fleet that they hoped would crush the CEDF and establish Vagaari dominance in the Unknown Regions. The CEDF was prepared and knew when the attack was coming, and prepared to defend the remote colony of Cormit.

As Chiss fighters engaged the Vagaari ships, they noticed that some ships had been configured with what was at first thought to be armor or shielding. Scouts later reported that the "bubbles" were in fact containing sentients who appeared trapped. The most critical Vagaari ships were protected by cells for slaves.

The CEDF Commanders made a decision to cripple the Vagaari ships rather than destroy them. This decision resulted in a 5 hour engagement that led to thousands of Chiss lives. Whether they were pilots , ground troops killed during boarding actions, or Ship crews, their sacrifice ultimately forced the Miskara to flee. He took the few ships with his most loyal captains, and left the system. The remaining ships surrendered a few minutes later.

Less than two weeks later, CEDF Task Forces emerged from Chiss space looking for retribution for Cormit. The Vagaari Ships left to embargo and blockade the allies of the Chiss were awaiting orders that were supposed to come after "Victory over the Chiss", orders which never came. The ships were attacked by the Chiss in much the same manner, and emboldened other groups to begin(or resume) resisting the Vagaari. The Chiss then returned to their peacetime position and allowed the other powers of the region to enforce the new peace through multilateral agreements. When asked to join, the Chiss refused on the grounds that "The Chiss are not conquerors", instead perferring to maintain their pre-war trade agreements.

The Second Vagaari War had created veterans who were looking for work, but the Ministry of Allocation did not have enough positions available to hire all of them, so many became enforcers in the Ascendancy's Post-War Underworld.The Chiss underworld was run by minor and fallen families who traded in black market alien products, mostly on frontier worlds like Cormit. The resumption of trade created a new economic boom, even with some resources devoted to replacing ships and assets damaged or destroyed in the War. The Chiss underworld was also a popular choice for non-chiss who felt shut out of other aspects of Chiss Society.However, more and more of the Ascendancy's non-chiss population began to feel that they deserved an "equal" share of the new prosperity without resorting to criminality.

While most were satisified with the return to Pre-War Status Quo, a Captain who had commanded a Cruiser at Cormit argued a minority view. The war had changed everything, he began to tell his colleagues. The Chiss could not longer sit back and await the next Vagaari attack. The Vagaari Miskara had fled to the true Vagaari homeworld, which Chiss intelligence still could not locate, and the Captain was sure that the Miskara was marshalling his forces for a renewed attack. This Captain had seen the lives lost at Cormit and felt that the Chiss should be the guarantors of Peace in the region, and actively counter the slave trade,which stil continued despite the Vagaari dissappearance. Promoted to Force Commander for his actions at Cormit, Thar`mis` Stal would have an undeniable effect on Chiss Society long after Cormit.

Syndicate and Throne(37 BCGT - 12 BCGT )

"The continued existence of multiple families, each with a specialization, was designed to create a symbiotic system; However, it has lead to system of political scheming. We have no choice but to reconsider our political structure and the role the Chiss Houses have within it."

-Excerpt from The Throne of Csilla, by Chaf`ara Nithin

Chiss Culture changed for forever when in 37 BCGT, the Vesci(crime) Syndicate was founded by a coalition of minor chiss families. The Syndicate contained a structure similar to Black Sun, where each Vesci Aristocra organized into a criminal coalition. While the ultimate goals of the Syndicate did not go beyond provide black market goods and service, each individual familiy hoped to use the Syndicate as a means to climb back into the corridors of power.

Realizing that even the criminal path was blocked by powerful Chiss families, the Non-Chiss population joined with Houseless Chiss to organize their own revolutionary organisation. The organisation that would be created five years later represented those negelected by larger chiss society and those who held minority views.

The CEDF decided that the rise of the Syndicate was a threat to the economic and political stability of the Ascendancy, the CEDF waged a bitter 20 year campaign to secure the Chiss Ascendancy. During this time, the Non-Chiss population on many worlds were reassigned to refugee camps and reeducation centers. Force Commander Thar`mis Stal was disgusted at his role in these operations:

"The aliens were rounded up and loaded up onto the ship. They were older style raw materials haulers where hundreds of sentients were cramped into the cargo bays besides dirty crates and meleenium piles. When we got to our destination, even the children smelled like duracrete and spoiled fruit. The CEDF were not the colonial phalanxes, we had little experience in relocation of massive populations, and none whatsoever in refugee exchanges. The Hierarchy called it an exchange, but those of us who were out there knew what it was before we even negotiated price:Slavery. We were violating one of our oldest laws just to deal with a public order problem."

After 20 years of this, public support for the Grand Aristocra beyond to wane. The Chiss Ascendancy was never an absolute monarchy with the Head of State powers invested in the Council of Families. However, the powers of Head of Government had been granted to Aristocra Csapla during the Second Vagaari War, who was approved by the Council of Families to the title of 'Grand Aristocra'. The Grand Aristocra managed the government on a daily basis. Some began to believe that the Grand Aristocra was being hampered by the other Chiss Houses, while others began to wonder why the Grand Aristocra always had to be a Csapla.

The other Houses coalesced around an opposition that felt that a Csapla Aristocracy was close to monarchy, and won the power to nominate and approve the new Aristocra. The new rule would be tested a few months later when the Grand Aristocra was assassinated. The Grand Aristocra was on Sarvchi on the a public tour to gather more support for the "Public Order" policy. Sarvchi, as home to a large Non-Chiss minority, had known years of unrest following the implementation of the new policy. The Grand Aristocra had finished making his speech, when a Non-Chiss approached. The Non-Chiss thanked the Grand Aristocra for allowing him and his family to become citizens and then detonated a bomb. Public Outrage was misdirected to the Non-Chiss population, but others were concerned about the fact the Grand Aristocra's security was so light for the event and suspected a broader conspiracy.

Roeg`eri Csapla, was Minister of Colonial Affairs during this period, and was focused on newer colonies, and ignored the petty infighting between the other Houses. Geric was more interested in music and a secret affair with a twi`liek agricultural expert. Her mysterious led him to lose interest in leadership and resign his title as Aristocra. This created the necessary opening for Faran's bid for power.

Chaf`ara Nithin used his involvement with the Vesci Syndicate to bribe, blackmail, and decieve his way into the Aristocracy of House Chaf. House Chaf had risen and fallen many times in its history. This time the Vesci Syndicate would seek power and the coveted role of Grand Aristocra. Faran was elected Grand Aristocra with the pledge to end the 'Public Order' policy of his predecessor. Faran changed the Grand Aristocra position so that there was a term limit of 6 months and the new Aristocra had to be from a different House than their predecessor. When his 6 month term limit expired, the Chiss public wondered whether Faran would resign or run again. This will never be known as he was killed by an assassin's bomb planted outside his home the night before he was due to make a major announcement.

House Chaf blamed the other Houses, and used the Vesci Syndicate to turn a protest into a riot that wrecked the city for days. The Council of Families believed that this was a result of rebels, and decreed that the borders of the Ascendancy would be shut down. They announced that the major Houses would be involved in the security of the Ascendancy, through what came to be called the "Prefecture System". The CEF and Colonials Phalanxes would be dissolved and their assets used to expand the Household Phalanxes, existing colonies would be apportioned between the Major Chiss Houses, no new colonies be founded, while the CEDF would maintain Naporar as the CEDF Headquarters. House Nuroudo lost its role of oversight over the CEDF in the months that followed faran's death, as the next Grand Aristocra was a Nuroudo. the Vesci Syndicate extracted their revenge by killing the Grand Aristocra by blowing up his ship as it landed during a parade.

It was decided that control over the "Csilla Prefecture" would be allocated to an Assembly of Minor Chiss Houses. The Council of Families, in pursuit of securing more territory for their families, had handed the Vesci Syndicate control of the Csilla System itself. When the Ascendancy media exposed this, uprisings erupted on the other colony worlds of the Csilla system. In the meantime, Grand Aristocras were elected and then resigned amid scandal or were assassinated, House Yar fell into decline due to its support of the House Nuroudo Grand Aristocra.

Civil Dispute (11 BCGT - 2 BCGT)

"Define disappeared."

-Admiral Harr`un`alomi reaction to the Crustai incident

The Crustai system was one of the newest Chiss colonies and allocation of it was disputed. The CEDF absorbed the colonial phalanx into itself and garrisoned the system until the Council determined allocaton. Suddenly, reports stopped coming from the system, and Household Phalanxes were reporting rapid disappearance of personnel, sabotage, and theft.

No one had any answers until the scouts at the edge of the Naporar system picked up a massive Chiss fleet on approach to the planet. The CDF deployed its ships and prepared to repel the invasion. After a brutal space engage,emt, the CDF lost. The invaders landed on the planet and destroyed everything, and arrested everyone. The CEDF lost its best officers that day. Those who survived gathered to select a new Defense Hierarchy. Unable to come to an agreement, they let the Council decide. The Defense Hierarchy became staffed with partisans of the Houses and capable officers were passed over for promotion to the rank of Admiral.

The CEDF returned to the Csilla system and ended the insurrection. The Chiss Houses all blamed each other for the attack and the House Prefectures went to a war stance. Two Houses moved to secure the system and ther Household Phalanxes, now Fleet sized, attacked each other. The CEDF was too busy reorganising after the Battle of Naporar and the Csilla Insurrection to enforce the territorial allocation of the colonies and protect CEDF Outposts, and now the Houses knew it. Pesfavri was immediately followed up by attacks on all colonies by rival Houses, starting with the CEDF outposts in The Redoubt.Pesfavri was the flashpoint in what became the Chiss Civil Dispute.

Trade with outsiders and the black market was the secret to the succcess of the Socialist economic system of the Ascendancy. The black market had been crushed by the "Public Order" policy and trade with outsiders had ended. The Prefectures were allocating more resources away from Csilla and to their individuals worlds. Csilla was an isolated system, and the CEDF needed resources. The Council of Families approved a policy of forced requisitioning, whereby citizens were deprived of their property at the end fo a charric.

The Minor Houses sought to do on Csilla what the Major Houses were doing on a smaller scale. The CEDF ceded peacekeeping authority within the cities on Csilla to the Minor Houses, with each minor House controlling a single city. By this time, the Chiss Houses were appointing officials based on political favors rather than talent. Entire departments ground to an operational halt. All departments shut down except the CEDF.

The Minor House leaders met on a secure holonet meeting, to form a secessionist organisation called the City States of Csilla. The City States of Csilla would be a confederation of the cities, governed by the City-State Assembly.

The CEDF took direct control of Csaplar after an abortive attempt by CSC agents to cause the capital itself to secede. Force Commander Thar`mis Stal was brought out of retirement and placed in command of the defenses of the city, while the Defense Hierarchy secretly negotiated with the CSC. The much-feared attack never materialized, due to an agreement. The Chiss Parliament would only seat representatives from the Csilla Prefecture for the forseeable future and was given the sole authority to amend the Chiss Constitution. An important provision of the agreement only allowed for the seating of MP's after elections. The CEDF created a slate of Anti-CSC candidates after exposing the CSC as a front for the Minor Houses and the core of the Vesci Syndicate.

Force Commander Thar`mis Stal was placed in command of all CEDF assets in the Csilla system. This did not place him in command of the CEDF, and only made him the highest positioned field commander. The Defense Hierarchy did not grant him the rank of Admiral, because that would have made eligible for appointment to the Defense Hierarchy.

A few days later, the Director of Asrallka was arrested for questionable financing activities. Three days before his public trial, he was found dead in his cell. Asrallka had already been weakened by defections to Household Intelligence units and now the death triggered a new concern about infiltration. The Director had been critical of the Defense Hierarchy and the Hierarchy was pushing to replace him. Suprisingly the Defense Hierarchy chose Thar`mis Stal as the new Director of Asrallka., a position he would use to place loyal favorites not just throughout the system, but throughout every system in the Ascendancy.

The people of Csilla feared the accumulation of power of the Chiss Parliament, the Chiss Houses, and the CEDF. Thar`mis Stal called a meeting in the House Palace of representatives of the Parliament, the Chiss Houses, and the CEDF. The CEDF commanders signed a loyalty oath to the Force Commander. The Chiss Parliament named him Crahsyndic and granted him broad executive powers. The Chiss Houses refused to sign and had their territory annexed by the Ascendancy through a coordinated operation of uprisings and arrests.The Aristocras were all given pardons and allow to live out the rest of their lives as ordinary citizens, but forbidden from retaking their lands or reforming their household phalanxes. Thar`mis Stal then executed a Parliament order to arrest the Defense Hierarchy. The forces loyal to the Hierarchy gathered around the CEDF Station orbiting the planet. The new Crahsyndic turned Csilla's planetary defenses on the station. within days, the new ruler of the Csilla received reports of worlds sending representatives and declaring their loyalty. Only one world refused to bow.

Sarvchi and the Sages

Sarvchi was the one world where Thar`mis Stal had expected to fall without firing a show. The world however, was the domain of House Chaf, who believed he had been put into power by the same forces who had killed the Chaf Aristocra Faran. The Colonial Syndic of Sarvchi, the second daughter of Faran, declared her world independent and offered refuge to all who opposed the new regime.

Among those who accepted the offer were the Chiss Sages. The enigmatic Chiss mystics who used what the rest of the galaxy called "the force" to divine the mysteries of the universe, were a problem because Thar`mis Stal saw them as a State Sponsored Religion which had no place in his new society. He ignored their offers to advise him, citing them as attempts to manipulate the new Crahsyndic.

Tipped off that they would be arrested after meeting secretly with members of parliament, the Sages fled to Sarvchi. Thar`mis Stal believed he had all the proof he needed of their complicity with his enemies. So he prepared to organize a force to take Sarvchi and crush the final obstacle to his regime.

The CEDF 'Administrators' on other worlds were either fanatical favorites or ambitious schemers looking to supplant Crahsyndic Rmisst. Each world had its own local problems, which plagued the new government. On Sposia, a popular judge had been put to death by the new governor, who was the friend of a CEDF pilot that Judge had jailed years earlier for theft of an airspeeder.

However, his greatest threat was still on the homeworld. House Sabosen lost control of the Judicial Circuit after Thar`mis Stal took power. The one institution that remained independent was the Chiss Expeditionary Library, which was now supplying news content thanks to the decline of House Inronkini. The CEL contained many scholars and the press was openly critical of the new regime. Thar`mis Stal presented evidence to the Parliament that the CEL had been involved in allowing the Chiss Sgaes and other opponents of the regime to escape offworld. CEL staff began arming and even recruited local CEDF troops to defend the Library.Crahsyndic Rmmist marched his bodyguard troops, the Flame Phalanx, onto the CEL campus to arrest the CEL staff. No one knows who fired first, but a charric rifle was fired and Rmisst's troops charged before they could get into position. Suddenly an explosion rocked the cavern and the entire campus was buried in an underground avalanche.

An incredible number of records were lost that day, including the latest information about the Chiss Colonies. Now only the few beacon ships which remains in system had that knowledge. Once again, the government was on the verge of a shutdown. Two new political parties were founded to organize Parliamentary opposition to him:The Throne Party and the Conservative Party. The Conservative Party favored a true republic with popular elections and the end of military rule, while the Throne Party favored turning control of the government to one Chiss House in the name of stability.The new coalition used the immigration wave and the CEL Crisis to win a majority of seats in Parliament.

At the same time, the Crahsyndic supported the decolonization of the other colonies in the Csilla system, hoping that the renewed population would allow a boost in economic development. Unfortunately he also brought a huge number of those who opposed him.

Thar`mis Stal had a plan to solve all his problems and it all involved Sarvchi. One of the people on Sarvchi who held no ill feelings against him was a young artist he had met earlier in his military career. The pair met in secret because she was a government informant in the Vesci Syndicate. He planned to personally lead a strike force to liberate the planet and free it to save her and be rid of all his enemies. Rmmist would then marry the young woman and declare their young child his heir presumptive. The Thronists would break from the Conservatives to declare the new Chiss monarch. Risst would then reopen the borders and begin to participate in the multilateral agreements established at the end of the Vagaari Wars.

One day when he was deciding which of his favorites on Csilla to name as Steward(the last thing he needed to do before leaving for Sarvchi), a young CEDF lieutenant entered holding a datapad. Assuming it was an update on the readiness of the Task Force, he accepted, While he was reviewing the pad, she revealed a charric that had somehow gotten past the sensors and shot the Crahsyndic, shouting "To Csesin Cart Ran'zezo! Tun'ho Vez To Rot'san'esibi!(THE TYRANT IS DEAD! LONG LIVE THE ASCENDANCY!). The assassin was shot while trying to escape before anyone could find out anything further.

The Five Year War(2 BCGT - 7 CGT)

"We stand for the rights of nonchiss and forgotten chiss alike. Rejected by your Society, we rejected it in turn. We have no use for an 'Ascendancy' which has no use for us."

- Tanasas Cabal Public Address after the InfoNet Blackout

Almost no one had planned for the assassination of Thar`mis Stal. The Major Houses were too busy fighting each other, The Minor Houses were hoping to use the absence of so many ships and troops to rebuild the Vesci Syndicate or make a bid for power themselves. The CEDF were busy in planning for Sarvchi or rebuilding the CEDF. Some had hoped to either side with the resistance on Sarvchi, link up with one of the Chiss Houses, or simply be declared Crahsyndic by an act of Parliament. The Parliament was busy holding the Thronist-Conservative Coalition together. The people of Sarvchi were bracing for an attack they knew was coming. No one had made preparations for Thar`mis Stal's death.No one except Thar`mis Stal.

The Amendment Thar`mis Stal had pushed which defined his powers left the appointment of a successor if he died before he could name one in the hands of parliament. In the days following Thar`mis Stal's assassination a number of candidates from the Chiss Houses and the CEDF met privately with Parliament Members to secure their support.

The Parliament suddenly announced that they had failed to find a suitable candidate and instead were amending the entire constitution. The CEDF was renamed the Csilla System Defense Fleet, while Chiss ground forces were reorganized into Urban militias, and a majority of the CEDF was demobilized. The new government severed all tied with offworld colonies and called off the Sarvchi operation. The Crahsyndic position was removed and a new Chancellor position was created. The Chancellor would be elected by the members of the Chiss Parliament, and have the power to appoint all senior officials, but only if parliament approved those candidates. The Conservatives held the alliance together by giving the Thronists the Vice-Chancellor position, along with a few other important posts.

The further restriction of trade and the massive demobilization set the stage for the revival of the Vesci Syndicate. The Syndicate set about supplying citizens through a new extensive Black Market that had arrived in the wake of the crisis. In return for reorganizing the council so anyone could sit on it, the Syndicate now was able to obtain offworld goods.

The Vesci Syndicate then incited labor strikes in the cities that turned into rioting. While the urban militias moved to quell the fighting, the planetary holonet went offline, disconnecting the Government in Csaplar from the CSDF and the all the cities from each other.

The holonet went offline after an attempt to grant the nonchiss delegates full votes in the Parliament failed. Nonchiss had voting rights even in the earliest periods of immigration, they had never been allowed to be members of parliament, and had only one the right to nonvoting delegates under the Conservative Constitution.

Then came an address by someone who called himself the Shadow Syndic. He was an alien who claimed that they were using the conflict to purge all those who were corrupt. The Vesci Syndicate was weakened as massive defections on both sides as troops even came out fo retirement to declare for the Tanasas(Freedom) Cabal. The Tanasas Cabal used Chiss house ranks and was led by an elected Shadow Aristocra. The Cabalists had used the used for new staff after the CEL crisis to put their people in important positions managing the holonet and news agency. They had assassinated the Csapla Grand Aristocra, which they knew would trigger the assassinations of Grand Ariastocra Faran and the Director of Asrallka(the two individuals best suited to oppose them). Crahsyndic Rmmist was their ideal candidate, but was assassinated before he coulf realize the Cabalist vision for the Ascendancy.

The CSDF commanders were split over whether to support the parliament or the Cabal. For the next five years, battles were fought in space, on the frozen tundra and underground. Prard` uti Takir, youngest brother of the Aristocra of House Prard was named General of the Parliament forces two years after the conflict began and many officers were lost to defections,exile, or combat. He reorganized the army and led a three year campaign against the cabal forces.

Remnants of the Chiss Houses had begun to coalesce on Csilla as more worlds disappeared in the same manner as Crustai. It was these forces who had turned the tide in the Five Year War, but were still resentful of the parliament's support for Thar`mis Stal.

The Cabalists made one last try by directly attacking Csaplar, but were obliterated by a counterattack. Captured cabal officers told the truth:the attack had been a distraction to allow a small task force to escape. The small cabal task force had made contact with an alien coalition dedicated to mulitracial harmony, peace, and justice.

They were called the Geroon Coalition.

1st Restored Chiss Ascendancy(Year 8)

This is the emblem of the Chiss Ascendancy, used by the 1st Chiss Ascendancy Government

"'Greetings, for those who do not know who I am, my name is Isoldor Storm,Sith Master and leader of the former 12 Colonies. I have come before you today to tell you my plans for the future. By the will of the noble Chiss, we the 12 Colonies have been adopted into their Ascendancy, to help the Chiss fulfill their dream of expansion into the galaxy. Together we can create a safer and secure galaxy for all who live in it.'To the people of the 12 Colonies, treat the Chiss as if they were your own flesh and blood, treat them like brothers. For you will learn much from them, helping both their and our growth together, creating a strong bond that no forces can break.We have struck an alliance with the mighty forces of the Galactic Empire, they will aid us both Military and Economically, they are our friends, they might see things differently then us but we need their support.Together we will all strive to our dreams together, forging our own destines, fates and our way of life. We must stand together, for separated we will fall but together we are unstoppable. Imperium Sine Fine.'"

- Chancellor Isoldor StormAn Announcement to the Chiss and the people of the former 12 Colonies:,Year 8 Day 219, 19:25:43(*Translated from Cheunh to Basic*)

As the joint Geroon-Cabalist Fleet approached, the Parliament weighed its options. Nonchiss now held positions in the CSDF, the government bureaucracy, and even the Parliament as voting members. One of these voting members proposed that if the cabalists have allies, then perhaps the Parliament should seek out allies as well.

General Prard` uti Takir recounted the secret meetings held with the alien visitors who were from something called the Twelve Colonies:"I stood there as our delegation met theirs. It was not a meeting of strangers, but of friends. The delegation was led by the members of Chiss Houses.The details were not entirely clear, but they had met each other before today. I was proud that the Chiss Houses were once again taking the lead in making policy, but part of me wondered. Why was parliament allowing this? ".

Suddenly the Geroon Coalition Fleet arrived, escorted by Chiss ships. The Cabalists had returned with their allies, and had their remaining agents on csilla disable or destroy Csilla's defenses. General Prard` uti Takir watched in shocked as defense platforms, satellites, and planetary weapons went offline or were destroyed. He then entered into his clawcraft and gathered every chiss warrior and pilot into an attack on the approaching forces.

General Prard led the charge against the invaders and were shocked when they discovered the true nature of the Geroon Coalition:They were the Vagaari, and they had allied with the Ebruchi Pirates and all other enemies of the Ascendancy to destroy the Chiss once and for all. Not even the Tanasas Cabal had known with whom they were really allied, and their ships were destroyed or captured by the Vagaari Fleet.

All seemed lost until the 12 Colonies Fleet arrived and defeated the Vagaari. As a grateful population rejoiced, they also mourned the lost of General Prard and many other CEDF officers. It was at this time, that the Parliament announced the new agreement The constitution would be amended, so that daily management would be in the hands of a new Council of Families chosen by the Chancellor and traditional Chiss Institutions would be restored.

The leader of the Twelve Colonies Isoldor Storm, made a public address to convince the Chiss people to elect him Chancellor in the new elections. The speech, plus the promise of the restoration of chiss institutions like CEDF appealed to many in Chiss society from former cabalists, to traditionalists, and even thronists. Storm won in a landslide and appointed the leader of the Thronists as Premier, a new position to run Csilla itself.

An excited crowd declared a Hapan Sith Lord as Chancellor of the Chiss Ascendancy.

Barely a few months into the new government, a new crisis hit. Isoldor Storm was assassinated and control of the Chiss Ascendancy fell to the Corellian Valat Horn. Chiss staff ofworld, fled back to Csilla or other places in a panic. The new Chancellor declared that the Ascendancy would be ruled as a constitutional republic, after a new constitutional convention was called. People on Csilla were confused as to how a Constitutional convention could be called without their consent by someone who had not been elected by Parliament.

In the remote Zelos system, a Chiss Shadow Child declared himself heir of House Prard and managed to acquire all the assets of the Chiss Ascendancy. There was rejoicing on Csilla when they learned the leader of this new organization, Black Nebula, was the Aristocra of a Chiss House. The people of Csilla believed that they were getting a new Grand Aristocra, what they got was a Pirate.

3rd Chiss Ascendancy(Year 10)

The Legitimists, who were a group of Chiss that had sided with the Sith regime of Storm. Made a last ditch attempt to revive their version of the Ascendancy. They created a group with help from Black Nebula, the legitimists would run Csilla but Black Nebula would rule only by name. The plans would eventually would fall apart as one member was accused as being a part of the pirate group, Eidola. Then a New Republic offensive attacked Csilla(see:Battle of Csilla).

It was during these times that Csilla was plunged into darkness and it would be years before a glimmer of hope would emerge.

4th Chiss Ascendancy(Year 11 - Year 13)

This is the emblem of The Fourth Chiss Ascendancy. According to Aristocra Carn`ilo` Sabosen, who commissioned the new logo, the black replacing the traditional white represents the tragic recent history of the Chiss people.

The Fourth Chiss Ascendancy can trace it’s origin to the Chiss Society, a small social group made up of Chiss from all over the galaxy. After a while two members of the Society, Carn`ilo` Sabosen and Flar Gar started to work together to re-establish the Chiss Ascendancy. Many Chiss around the galaxy came to help support the rebuilding of the Chiss government. As the rebuilding began, a new Aristocra was appointed, Carn`ilo` Sabosen became the new leader for the rebirth of the Ascendancy. Under the leadership of Aristocra Sabosen, the CEDF and the Council of Families was reborn.

The Fourth Chiss Ascendancy had many challenges ahead of themselves. They founded a medical corporation to help fund the Ascendancy’s activities but after awhile faced betrayal by the General Minister Sye Montaris. After secretly selling the CEDF to suspicious parties(who then sold it to Karl Korne), Sye Montaris faked suicide to escape from Chiss Intelligence. Aristocra Sabosen decided it was time to move on and started to plan for the future.

On Year 11 Day 210, the Council of Families met and agreed with the Aristocra’s plan to create a new mining corporation, Chiss Material Extractions. CME was able to set up headquarters on their newly settled planet of Dayral, which became the first chiss colony. After awhile though there came to be internal disagreements between the two leaders, Aristocra Sabosen and Lord Flar Gar. As a result, CME became a separate entity from the Chiss Ascendancy.

Ideological Division

In order to differentiate from organisation led by Flar Gar, Aristocra Drak`ora Sabosen commissioned this new logo. The logo was designed by chiss artist Rachel Keiko-sho. Sabosen's only instructions were to create a more polished version of the traditional Chiss Ascendancy logo.

Chiss Materials Extractions continued to grow and expand, a rift began to develop. Carn`ilo` Sabosen carried the standard of adherence to traditional chiss cultural values , while Flar Gar accepted a more multicultural view.

Philosophically, Carn`ilo` Sabosen a Traditionalist, while Flar Gar is "Progressive"(favoring some changes to chiss culture in favor of adaptation).

Their divergent philosophies resulted in several controversies, which eventually rippled into the chiss community. Both men eventually gained some support.

In Year 12, perceiving that Flar Gar had mocked his vision of a revived Chiss Ascendancy, and that Flar was not leading Chiss Material Extractions in a more Traditionalist philosophy, Carn`ilo` Sabosen took action. He hired a bounty hunter. Flar Gar however heard by indirect means and trapped Carn`ilo` Sabosen On day 108, Carn`ilo` Sabosen was arrested and prepared to stand trial.

On day 109, after a controversial trial, Carn`ilo` Sabosen was put to death. His death equally controversial due to the chiss not preforming execution as a form of criminal punishment.

On the Progressive perspective rare exceptions was made possible. In this case it was due to Carn`ilo` Sabosen holding ownership of a share of stock. Potentially this was a security risk, Flar and others felt Carn`ilo` Sabosen could use to bring harm. At any rate it was generally agreed by those holding a progressive view that Carn'ilo' Sabosen could not be trusted, by taking hostle premeptive action, and added that to exile him was not an option.

Flar Gar felt that Carn`ilo` Sabosen on some level had became threat to chiss culture. This is despite the fact that Carn`ilo` Sabosen had also contributed in no small way to the reconstruction of chiss culture. In Gar's opinion, the extraordinary case had to be meet with extraordinary measures. Shortly after the execution, Chiss Material Extractions changed its name to 'The Chiss Ascendancy', frustrating the remaining traditionalists.

The traditionalists kept the name Sabosen had given their community:'Chiss Ascendancy-in-Exile' and insisted that the renaming is an usurpation, while Flar and the Progressives argue that 'The Chiss Ascendancy'(formerly Chiss Material Extractions) is the practical expression of Chiss community goals and have equal but not exclusive right to being called Chiss Ascendancy.

Flar Gar also claims that a core tenant of being progressive is that both the Chiss Ascendancy-in-Exile and The Chiss Ascendancy share equal right to the name because they both share the same historical genesis and hold goals that overlap, but differ in that the Chiss Ascendancy should not be for Chiss only. He argues that the Chiss are not irrational and while they might express xenophobic tendencies, in some peoples eyes, it would do the Chiss an injustice.

Matters Resolved

In a venture to cease all hostilities between our peoples and put an end to intra-species bickering. I would like to promote an offer of understanding and increased civility to our people.

It was this concern which led him to approach the Chiss Ascendancy-in-Exile
with a proposal. After days of negotiation, both sides agreed to be more respectful and to cease the hostile correspondence that had occurred between them in the days following Day 109. While not a formal treaty, the agreement was meant to be a public signal to the Galaxy that the two groups were prepared to focus on developing Chiss Culture and prosperity, of which the hostility was a detracting factor.

On Day 284, after multiple rounds of negotiations, the Chiss Parliament was founded.It was to be a new cooperative effort and represented a turning point. Not only did it mark a new plan for the revival of Chiss Society, but it also represented the resurgence of the most famous Chiss Family in the Galaxy:House Nakesh, who made a name for themselves by being advocates and architects of the Chiss Parliament.

The Fifth Chiss Ascendancy(Year 13 - Year 14 Day 129)

The rise of the Fifth Chiss Ascendancy had its roots in the Chiss Parliament. The Chiss Parliament was reorganized from a common assembly into a bicameral legislature where Houses had their representatives seated in the Chiss Cabinet, and five elected Senators in the Chiss Senate.

After ratifying a Charter, a Legal Code, and establishing the CEDF, the Senate began to falter as senators resigned to focus on other projects or disappeared altogether.

Into this lull, The Chiss Ascendancy released a bombshell: They were going to rename themselves. The name "Chiss Ascendancy" would once again be free for a new company to take. The former Fourth Chiss Ascendancy took the name Empire of the Hand and completed its adaptation of a multiculturistic view. Traditionalists rejoiced at the prospect of ending the confusion of what they saw as the true Chiss Ascendancy and Pretenders. Drak`ora Sabosen was almost ready when Simon Eusnomis announced that he was funding a friend who would make a Chiss Ascendancy bounty hunting company. The young Aristocra had 12 hours to create the company, which was already planned to focus on medical services.

After the Fifth Chiss Ascendancy was declared to the galaxy on day 164, the upcoming Senate election was suspended, which put the Parliament in a State of Limbo. A few notable Chiss were rewarded with Ambassadorships and became the first wave of dual citizens. similar to the program offered by the Avance Coalition, the Chiss Dual Citizenship Program grants all the benefits of citizenship to Chiss serving in other organisations,as long as those organisations were not hostile to the Ascendancy.

During the planning for the new company, it was decided that the Chiss Parliament was be reformed. The debate over reform eventually settled on a plan for a reorganization of the Chiss Ascendancy based on consensus.The result was to write a new Constitution to replace the flawed Charter written solely by House Sabosen. The process of doing this was to be known as the Chiss Convention and would be great accomplishment that would only be overshadowed by the fall of the Fifth Chiss Ascendancy.

Sixth Chiss Ascendancy(Year 14 Day 129-Present)

On Year 14 Day 129, the Chiss Parliament passed a motion to recognize House Yar as "Stewards of the Chiss Ascendancy" and that they would govern according to the Chiss Constitution. The Ascendancy continued to grow with the support of older Houses like House Ar' Togl and newer Houses like House Adelina. In Year 16, Chiss Ascendancy was invited to the Rift Alliance.

Learning that the Triumvirate Coalition would be closing down their nationalized manufacturer Triumvirate Space Technologies , Chiss Ascendancy took action. A Galactic Auction for rare technologies that had been scheduled, but was cancelled with the possibility that the Tech Auction would happen. The Auction was established on galactic registration date for various companies. By purchasing the legal "shell" of TST, Chiss Ascendancy obtained an opportunity to be in a better bidding position in the case of a new Auction. While technically the Seventh iteration of the Chiss Ascendancy to exist, Chiss Constitutional scholars do not consider this a new Ascendancy, given that the leadership remains the same.

Structure

Judicial Circuit

The Judicial Circuit consists of no more than three Justiciars, who are the supreme judicial authority within the Chiss Ascendancy, and cannot be a Ruling Aristocra or Senator. Justiciars are appointed and confirmed by a two-thirds vote of the Council of Families, but may be removed by a Parliamentary Vote of No Confidence. The Judicial Circuit has the right to overturn the decisions of House Courts, CEDF Court Martials, and even its own prior rulings. The Judicial Circuit also tries all cases regarding a Chiss House Succession and oversees all Chiss Senate elections.

Chiss Parliament

The Chiss Parliament is the primary legislature of the Chiss Ascendancy and is divided into two chambers: the Council of Families and the Chiss Senate.

The Council of Families shall consist of all Chiss Houses, which have been granted recognition. The Council of Families may Appoint Justiciars, Conduct the monthly Family Roll Call(which determines whether a Chiss House shall retain its seat in the Council of Families), Ratify Treaties, and create Senate seats. Every 30 days, the Council of Families may vote on whether to dismiss the Chiss Senate if the Chiss Senate is in session. The Council of Families also elects the presiding officer of the Chiss Parliament, the Crahsyndic.

Every 90 days, a public referendum is held on the holonet to determine whether the Chiss Senate shall be called. Senate approval is required to Declare War, Demote a Ruling House, or Amend the Constitution. A Senator serves for 90 days, and may declare a Vote of No Confidence against the Crahsyndic or a Justiciar(these votes cannot be vetoed by the Ruling Circle). The Chiss Senate must be at least four seats but no greater than nine, with one seat reserved for Chiss candidates only.

Chiss Cabinet

In addition to their duties presiding over the Chiss Parliament, the Crahsyndic also presides over the Chiss Cabinet, which handles the daily management of Chiss Ascendancy operations.

A permanent seat is allotted for the Supreme Commander of the CEDF, as representing the CEDF(which contains the Chiss military, as well as its intelligence and security branch, Asrallka).

Another permanent seat is granted to the Grand Sage of the Chiss Sages, who is consulted on matters regarding the force.

Ruling Circle

The Chiss Houses which direct Chiss policy are known as the Ruling Houses. As per the Chiss Constitution, no more than four Chiss Houses shall be Ruling Houses. For a Chiss House to be elevated to Ruling status requires a three-fourths vote of the Ruling Circle and confirmation by the Judicial Circuit.

Approval of the Ruling Circle is required before bills passed in the Chiss Parliament become law. The Ruling Circle may pass laws that do not deal in the areas delegated to the Chiss Parliament(unless operating under emergency powers), known as Ruling Decrees. A Ruling Decree remains in effect for at least 30 days, until it is vetoed by the Chiss Parliament. In the event that there are no recognized non-Ruling Houses seated within the Council of Families, the Ruling Circle may also assume the powers of the Council of Families.

The Ruling Circle also elects a Grand Aristocra to execute any roles within the Chiss Ascendancy that are not be filled by others and to represent the Chiss Ascendancy to the galaxy. The Grand Aristocra serves until death or resignation, and must be the Aristocra of a Ruling Chiss House.

Either the Grand Aristocra or the Ruling Circle may declare a State of Emergency. If the Grand Aristocra declares a State of Emergency, Chiss Senate Elections are suspended(including the 90-day referendum cycle). If the Ruling Circle declares a State of Emergency, then the Chiss Ascendancy may declare war without Chiss Senate approval. A State of Emergency may be ended by the Council of Families(this vote cannot be vetoed by the Ruling Circle).